Tuesday, March 10, 2009

DUI and Its Consequence on Your Auto Insurance Premium

By Chimezirim Odimba

DUI's are very serious; they are also embarrassing and expensive. Once you have paid more than you ever anticipated there are even more that want to get a piece of you. The other costs you will eventually get over but the long term consequences of your auto insurance premiums will be around for a long time to come.

The insurance company always finds out about DUI's, at which time they may outright cancel your policy or raise your rates so high that you may have wished they just cancelled your policy. Being a "high risk" driver makes you possibly even be uninsurable but bank that the label will follow you around for quite some time. Don't count your chickens before they hatch if the insurance company doesn't notify you right away with word about your DUI, it is just the calm before the storm.

The most trusted insurance companies won't touch you for coverage so you will likely be stuck with some small no name insurance agency that will charge you an arm and a leg for your coverage. States determine how long the DUI will remain in your record but it could stay there for the rest of your life in some states.

Every state has authorization over DUI laws and car insurance coverage. Insurance companies provide a form SR-22 which is required by most states so that there is no way to hide a DUI conviction from your insurance agency. This form is the method used to get your license reinstated by verifying to the DMV that you possess, at a minimum, liability coverage.

In the event that your coverage were to slip, your insurance company will alert the DMV. Your current premiums could likely double after a DUI.

No laws are enforced to dictate any caps on what is acceptable for an insurance company to charge you after a DUI so they can have a field day with your wallet. It is exceptionally significant that you in no way drive when you have been drinking. A single foolish choice can be a curse for many years.

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